Shook-assembling bench for crate making



Feb. 17, 1931. J. H. STAHL 1,792,777

SHOCK ASSEMBLING BENCH FO R CRATE MAKING Y Filed May 13, 19:50 2 sheets-sheet 1 Fiql mwszvron.

FeB. 17, 1931 J. H. STAHL 1,792,777

SHOCK ASSEMBLING BENCH FOR CRATE MAKING Filed May 13, l9 30 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fQZVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 JOHN HENRY STAHL, or EL PASO, TEXAS SHOOK-ASSEMBLING BENCH FOR CRATE MAKING Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to improvements in shook assembling bench for crate-making and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a portable assembling bench for crate-making on which shook ends (ends of a crate to be made) may be supported, slats aligned, and all brought in their proper positions for assembling, the ends of slats terminating flush with said shook ends; second, to relieve strain upon and thus avert damage to the parts of a crate while it is being assembled; third, to provide a sturdy support for slats to be nailed on shook ends on one and the same horizontal plane; fourth, to assure uniformity in spacing between slats; fifth, to promote uniformity in the size and the shape of crates; and, sixth, to save time and energy and thus reduce the cost of assembling crates.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in Which--- Figure I isan elevational View in perspective of the entire shook assembling ben'ch for 5 crate-making with its movable anvils open;

Figure II is an elevational view in perspective of said movable anvils closed, foot lever pressed down, locking device on said foot lever, links and rod removed from the frame of said shook assembling 'bench for cratemaking; Figure III is a perspective view of said locking device on a fragmentary part of said foot lever, and Figure IV is a perspective view of one of two like springs and its housing.

Similar numerals refer tosimilar part-s throughout the several views.

Referring further and more particularly to the views illustrated by said drawings, Figure I is an .elevational view in perspective of the entire shook assembling bench for crate-making with its movable anvils open,

in which the numeral 1 indicates the rigidframe of said shook assembling bench for crate-making; 2, the crate core portion of said frame 1, said crate core portion being provided with notched receptacles for slats; 3-3, lugs on said crate: core portion;44e, movable anvils; 55, recessed ledges on said movable anvils on which recessed ledges foot lever, in whichthe numerals 11 indicate 1930. Serial No. 452,097.

shook ends may be hung for slats to be nailed thereto; 6-7, hinges that secure the movable anvils to the frame of said shook assembling bench for crate-making; 88, springs secured to said frame, which springs serve to open said movable anvils; 99, links that secure said movable anvils to a rod; 10, the rod secured to a foot lever which is secured to said frame; 11, the foot lever; 12, a locking device secured to said foot lever; 13, the lower catch of said locking device; 14, the upper catch of said locking device; and 15, the trip on frame of said shook assembling bench for crate-making.

Figure II is an elevational view in perspective of said movable anvils closed, foot lever pressed down, locking device on said foot lever, links and rod removed from the frame of said shook assembling bench for cratemaking, in which the numerals li indicate said movable anvils, 5-5, recessed ledges on said movable anvils on which recessed ledges shook ends may be hung for slats to be nailed thereto; 6-7, hinges that secure the movable anvils to the frame of said shook assembling bench for crate-making; 99, links that secure said movable anvils to a rod; 10, the rod secured to a foot lever; 11, the foot lever; 12, a locking device secured to said foot lever; 18, the lower catch of said locking device; and 14;, the upper catch of said locking device. 1

Figure III is a perspective view of said locking device on a fragmentary part of said 5 said :foot lever; 12, said locking device; the

. numerals 16, one of two lugs of said locking device; and the numerals 17, abolt which passes through said lugs and said foot lever, thus securing said locking device to said foot lever. .e

Figure IV is a perspective view of one of two springs and its housing,,in which the numeral 8 indicates the spring.

My invention is made to serve in the following manner: An operator places a pile of slats on the rear top of frame 1 of my shook assembling bench for crate-making; hangs a shook end (end of a crate to be made) on each of the recessed ledges 55 of said movable anvils QC-4c, then presses the foot lever 11 downward until the lower catch 18 of locking device 12 slides down the trip 15 of frame 1 and engages the base of frame 1 of said shook assembling bench for cratemaking. In this manner the resistance offered by springs 88 is overcome, the rod 10 secured to foot lever 11 and links 99 secured to rod 10 and to movable anvils 47-4 drawing said movable anvils towardbut not against the crate core portion 2 of said frame 1. It will be observed that the point of suspension of said locking device 12 is beyond 7 the latters center of gravity; therefore, when not obstructed, gravity will keep said locking device 12 in its normal vertical position. The operator now'takes a number of suitable nails in one hand (usually the left hand) and, with hammer in the other hand, employs the latter to pull a number of the slats forward. Slats fall within the notched receptacles provided by the crate core portion 2 of said frame 1 within which notched receptacles slats are held in alignment one with another, and the ends of each slat rest upon the shook ends supported by the recessed ledges 55 of said movable anvils 4-4. Thus said recessed ledges 55 serve as anvil-like bases for the shook ends to which the operator is to nail slats. The recesses in said recessed ledges 5-5 are to receive the rails when the shook ends of the type of crates being assembled are oblong instead of square.

The foot lever 11 is now pressed further downward until the upper catch 14 of the locking device 12 slides below the trip 15 andengages the base of frame 1. The movable anvils 44 will have the shook ends locked in a vice-like grip now, in proper position, and on one and the same horizontal planefor the slats to be nailed to shook ends. It will be observed that the shoulders of said movable anvils rise suhiciently high above their recessed ledges to hold the extremities of slats flush with the outward surface of the shook ends and, in preventing the slat ends from projecting beyond shook ends, lessen the likelihood of damage while crates are being handled and transported. Vhen desired, the surface along the top of each of said movable anvils l4i may be lined with wood or other suitable substance to receive the chance blows of an operators hammerstroke.

The operator now drives three nails through each slat end into each shook end.

hen slats have been nailed to oneside, or to the bottom, of a crate that is being assembled, the operatorthrusts his foot sharply againstthe locking device 12, thus releasing the same from the base of the frame 1. The springs 88 then cause said movable anvils, links 9 9, rod 10, foot lever 11, and locking device 12 to return totheir normal positions.

The operator now lifts the partly assembled crate and, bringing the edge nearest him toward him, turns said partly assembled crate over the rounded sides of the lugs 33 until the shook ends are in position to be hung again on the recessed ledges of said movable anvils H, then he proceeds as before. The remaining side, or the bottom, of said partly assembled crate is to be served in like manher. When the two sides and the bottom of the crate have been assembled, the crate is ready to receive the contents intended for it.

The words-shook ends have been defined as the ends of a crate to be made. Each shook end consists of two posts which extend the short way across it; two rails which extend the long way across it, and a panel which consists of one or more pieces, which, like the posts, extend the short way across it. The type of crate referred to here in is commonly known as the Los Angeles lettuce crate: itis not intended however, to limit the use of my shook assembling bench for crate-making to that one type of crate or to any type of crate for lettuce only. To assemble any type of crate of which panel ends are a part,only the dimensions, not the principles, of my invention need be made to conform to that type. This particular shook assembling bench for crate-making is made of metal; weighs 182 pounds; is 40 inches in height; 37 inches from front to rear; and, when its movable anvils are closed, 28 inches in width.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. The combination, in a shook assembling bench for crate-making, of a frame, part of said frame consisting of a crate core provided with lugs and a plurality of notched receptacles, a trip on said frame, springs secured to said frame, movable anvils secured to said frame, parts of said movable anvils consisting of recessed ledges, links secured to said movable anvils, a foot lever, a rod intermediate to and connecting said movable anvils and said foot lever, and a locking device secured to said foot lever, parts of said locking device consisting of a lower catch and an upper catch, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a shook assembling bench for crate-making, of movable anvils secured to a frame, recessed ledges on said movable anvils, springs secured to said frame, a trip on said frame, a foot lever secured to said frame, a means intermediate said foot lever and said movable anvils for closing said movable anvils, a locking device secured to said foot lever, parts of which locking device consist of a lower catch and an upper catch, and said frame, part of said frame consisting of a crate core provided with lugs and a plurality of notched receptacles.

3. The combination, in a shook assembling bench for crate-making, of movable anvils secured to a frame, recessed ledges on said movable anvils, a means for closing said movable anvils, a means for locking said movable anvils, a means for opening said movable anvils, a trip on said frame, said frame, and a crate core provided with lugs and notched receptacles as a part of said frame.

4. The combination, in a shook assembling bench for crate-making, of a frame having a crate core provided with lugs and a plurality of notched receptacles, a trip on said frame, springs secured to said frame, movable anvils having recessed ledges, said movable anvils being secured to said frame,'links secured to said movable anvils, a foot lever secured to said frame, a rod intermediate to and connecting said foot lever to said links,

and a means for locking and releasing said foot lever.

5. The combination, in a shook assembling bench for crate-making, of a frame inclusive of a crate core portion provided with lugs and notched receptacles, springs secured to said frame, a trip on said frame, movable anvils inclusive of recessed ledges, said movable anvils being secured to said frame, a foot lever secured to said frame, a locking device secured to said foot lever, said locking device having a lower catch and an upper catch, a rod and links intermediate to and securing said foot lever and said movable anvils, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a shook assembling bench for crate-making, of a frame, a crate core provided with lugs and a plurality of notched receptacles as a part of said frame, a trip on said frame, springs secured to said frame, movable anvils secured to said frame, recessed ledges as parts of said movable anvils, a foot lever secured to said frame, a rod intermediate to and securing said'foot lever to links, said links intermediate to and securing said rod and said movable anvils, and a locking device, a lower catch and an upper catch as parts of said locking device, said locking device being secured ,to said foot lever.

JOHN HENRY STAHL. 

